Compare towns
Barton vs Reading vs Ripton vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Barton | Reading | Ripton | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,815 |
699 |
508Lowest |
2,965Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.9±6.5Lowest 4% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,250±$16kLowest 18% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
| Ripton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,200±$28k 36% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
— | $875±$406 29% below VT |
| Reading and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,355Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,351 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.6%±12.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 50% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — | #68 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 |
| High school in town | Lake Region Union High School | None in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5Highest |
— | — | 8.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.